Nantucket question
 

I have a wedding to attend during the 2nd weekend of September and was hoping to get ideas about where to stay.

I also will be flying into Boston and driving down, any ideas on that segment would be great.

Thank you.

If you are flying from NY to Boston and plan to drive, you might want to reconsider and fly directly to Nantucket. USAirways has service from LGA. Space on the ferry is hard to get and relatively expensive and there are already too many cars on the island. Also, you don't really need a car.

If the wedding is in town, the White Elephant or the Jared Coffin House would be potential choices. If the wedding is in 'Sconset, the Summer House or the Inn at Waiwinet are great. There are plenty of other inns and guest houses. I would not recommend the Nantucket Inn at the airport. Visit www.nantucket.net for tons of info (and a great webcam of the harbor with sound).

Whatever you do, you should book soon because even though you are going after Labor Day your first choices will probably be gone if you wait.

I've been to Nantucket twice and never rented a car. Rented bikes and cabs are reasonable, since the island is so small. Check out Seven Sea Street Inn or Martin House Inn.

The Wauwinet is classic. Don't forget the red trousers. The Cape and Islands really do have a life of their own.

I'm heading to Nantucket for a summer weekend. First time for me. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Does anyone know how long the drive is from Manhattan to Hyannis to catch the ferry? I'll be leaving around 6:30am. And does anyone have the best route to drive there?

There once was a girl from Nantucket...

Unfortunately, unless you like the wilds of Eastern Connecticut, the ways to go look out of the way. I can't estimate time, but i can tell you that my partner's sister's place in Farmington, Connecticut to Hyannis is about 3 hours 15-45 minutes, and i leave a good 5 hours in advance, but i'm one of those annoying people who shows up on time for (most) of her flights.

Now, as for how to go...you have four options:

1.whatever to 684 to 84 to 90 to 495 (which becomes 25) to By-Pass6 to 6 to the Hyannis exit. Pure 65mph after Hartford, though there is a toll, but MA takes EZ-Fleece now. high in mileage, low in surprises, though!

2.whatever to 95. 95 all the way to Providence, 195 East to 25 to bypass-6 to 6 to the Hyannis exit. Probably second-best, but on a hot summer sunday, this can turn into a massive parking lot. No tolls. Mostly 65 after Old Saybrook, Connecticut to Warwick, Rhode Island.


2.whatever to 684 to 84 to 384, just after Hartford, Connecticut. 384 to US6 west, and stay on 6 to Providence, then 195 to 25 to By-Pass 6 to 6 to the Hyannis exit. There is some serious slagging through the wilds here, and US6 in Eastern CT is a ticket mill of nigh-Biblical proportions.

4.whatever to 95. stay on the Connecticut Turnpike at 395 to 6 East to 195 to 25 to By-Pass 6 to 6 to the Hyannis exit. Not highly recommended, as it combines the worst features of all these routings.

And when you're on the Island, don't forgrt NRTA bus service! Inexpensive, pleasant, and it covers a lot of the island. Certanly go see Siasconset, too...it's neat, and go down to Codfish Park and look at these interesting tiny cottages and just how "forever" the ocean seems at that point.

Nantucket is beautiful, even in its overdeveloped raided state at present; just because a lot of people down there forget they're on vacation doesn't mean you have to. There's plenty of solitude left even in high Summer weekends in July!

Your detailed directions were great. I opened up my road atlas and went through each one in great detail. Thank you. It looks like #2 is the most direct route. It does involve staying on 95 for all of CT which I know can get backed up. I'm leaving on a Thursday morning and returning on a Monday so to avoid horrific Friday and Sunday traffic.

Assuming traffic flows, how long is the drive from Providence to Hyannis going as you specified in #2? In particular, how long does it take?

I believe that the upcoming holiday weekend is the last weekend for construction on the Bourne bridge. (The Sagamore bridge construction was completed last year). Needless to say, if they have not finished, you will want to steer clear of the Bourne. 495 takes you to the Bourne, Route 3 to the Sagamore.

i've had it take from 90 minutes to 2 1/2 hours. (Alright, and i did make it in a little under 70 minutes once, but don't do that!) i suggest allowing 2h15 or so, simply because i tend to assume the worst and hope for the best with Cape traffic...and if i'm an hour early, i get some coffee and watch boats or something. Hyannis is not the voided barren it was ten years ago, fortunately!

Thanks so much! It's real-world experience like that which helps me plan the drive. I must say, the 70 minute trip looks mighty attractive. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Don't mean to be a downer, but if your travel through CT on I-95 involves a Friday afternoon/evening, watch out! For the last few years, "Cape" Traffic has been horrendous all the way along that route, especially through the Stretch between Saybrook and the RI border. Add in Gold Star Bridge construction and the inevitable accident/rubbernecking, and it can really put a hurting on a schedule. You may wish to consider driving out on Long Island and taking the ferry service from Orient Point to New London, CT - probably not shorter/faster, but definitely more enjoyable!

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Take a deep breath, and remember what's really important...

You could also fly into Providence, RI. The airfares there are extremely competitive (mostly due to the SouthWest Airline effect).

I've got the cheapest fare in town....I'm getting a ride. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

We assumed traffic would be horrible on Friday/Sunday, so we are leaving on a Thursday morning and returning on a Monday. I'm not saying we expect the traffic to be a breeze, but we definitely want to miss the worst of the traffic.

I thought about the LI route but the people I'm driving with are convinced that the headaches of the LIE are not worth a beautiful ferry across the Sound. I much prefer the LI route myself. Maybe we'll try it on the way back! I wish we could take a ferry from the tip of LI to Nantucket directly.

I know that this doesn't meet your needs, but there is seasonal high-speed ferry service from New London, CT to Martha's Vineyard, resuming in July:
http://www.foxnavigation.com/index.htm

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Take a deep breath, and remember what's really important...